When Henderson enters the league, he will bring with him two full seasons of professional experience in the G League, giving him a significant edge over his collegiate counterparts. If it weren't for the presence of a once-in-a-generation talent like Victor Wembanyama in this class, Henderson would be a serious contender for the top overall pick this year.
Standing at 6-foot-2, Henderson may lack in height, but his exceptional athleticism, strength, and impressive 6-foot-9 wingspan more than compensate for it. He possesses the readiness and skills to step onto an NBA court today and assume the role of a starting point guard.
Henderson's leaping ability is truly elite, showcasing incredible explosiveness that places him among the top athletes in this class—a testament to his remarkable physical gifts.
His unique combination of speed and explosiveness makes him an absolute terror in transition, consistently wreaking havoc on opposing defenses. Even in half-court situations, he exhibits exceptional agility in traffic and possesses the experience and skill to break down defenses off the dribble. Furthermore, Henderson exhibits sound decision-making and takes good care of the ball, a valuable trait for a point guard.
Whether he emphatically dunks the ball at the end of a drive or displays finesse with a delicate layup, Henderson's touch near the rim is nothing short of exceptional. He possesses the ability to convert on highly challenging attempts with either hand, owing to his ridiculous first step and an impressive repertoire of layup techniques. Not only does he possess the speed to blow by defenders, but Henderson also utilizes a deadly hesitation dribble that consistently keeps defenses guessing about his next move.
Impressively, Henderson displays a high basketball IQ, making few major mistakes despite his young age and experience playing at the professional level as a teenager.
The primary area of improvement for Henderson lies in his 3-point shooting. Over two seasons in the G League, he struggled to connect on less than 30% of his attempts from beyond the arc. However, there is optimism surrounding his midrange game, which has proven to be effective. It's important to consider that Henderson transitioned from the high school 3-point line to the longer NBA distance, requiring significant adjustment. Nonetheless, developing a consistent long-range shot will be crucial for him to round out his offensive game.
Nonetheless, Henderson excels in the midrange, consistently squaring his body to the rim regardless of the complexity of the shot. He is an elite scorer at two levels of the court, but his offensive game will benefit greatly from improvement in his long-range shooting.
During the pre-draft process, teams will closely evaluate Henderson's 3-point shooting, recognizing his fluid and quick shooting mechanics as a promising sign for the young guard.
Notably, Henderson is not just a great scorer but also a facilitator, embodying the true essence of a point guard. In his first season with Ignite at the age of 17, he averaged nearly four assists per game, and that number increased to almost seven in his second season. Additionally, he showcases exceptional positional rebounding skills, securing approximately five rebounds per game during his two seasons in the G League. Henderson possesses a natural instinct for the ball, which often goes underappreciated, making him an underrated offensive rebounder.
Defensively, Henderson demonstrates a tenacious nature but can be undisciplined at times, particularly in terms of avoiding fouls. However, there is promise in his natural timing as a shot blocker, indicating potential for growth on that end of the court.
As one of the primary scorers for Ignite over the past two seasons, Henderson consistently thrived even when competing with a talented pool of guards, including Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels, and others. He showcased his ability to be